The exodus of Burmese people searching for jobs and new lives in neighboring countries continues, despite the ruling junta’s is plans to hold elections this year, said the exile opposition party.
Zaw Myint, of the exiled Burmese opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) said in Malaysia, Burmese citizens are still flowing into Malaysia.
“2010 is very important for the future of our country, so we really want people to think about that before they apply and try to go abroad for their livelihood. If possible we don’t want anyone from Burma to come here because the situation is very difficult,” he said.
The Malaysian authorities announced December 15, 2009 their intention to arrest illegal migrants in the country within three months, according to Burmese migrants.
Authorities are arresting illegal migrants and Burmese citizens who came with visa and passport, added Burmese workers in Kuala Lumpur.
“Those who came here with passport and visa, have to give those documents to their job owner. They have only copy of that, so police arrest them too,” added Zaw Myint.
He said there is an estimated 700,000 legal and illegal Burmese citizens in Malaysia, up from around 500,000 in 2008. More people are arriving even though the Burmese junta is planning to hold countrywide elections this year.
“I would like to suggest everyone patient and stay in the country at least one more year, if they want to go out, because it is very important time now,” he said.
However, with the fear of oppression and persecution from the Burmese military junta, a lot of people, especially from ethnic minorities are continuing flee to neighboring countries such as India, Thailand and Malaysia.
According to the November 2009 report of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), based in Kuala Lumpur, there are now 75,600 refugees, compared with 45,400 in 2008. Of those, 69,700 asylum seekers are from Burma.
The report said, 17,400 are Rohingyas from the Northern Arakan (or also called Rakhine) State of Burma, 32,100 ethnic Chins from Burma’s western China State, 4,100 were the Muslims and the rest are other ethnics from Burma.
In India, 2,952 refugees have registered with the UNHCR office and thousands of refugees are waiting for registration. Tens of thousands of Chin refugees live in Mizoram State, northern India.
A staff member of the Kuala Lumpur-based, Kachin Refugee Committee (KRC), said ethnic Kachin refugees from Burma’s northern Kachin State are living in fear day and night, because their movements are closely watched by the authorities.
“We have to be alert all the time, even when we are sleeping. I have seen policemen at every corner of the road, everyday” he said.
There are more than 4,000 Kachin refugees from Northern Burma in Malaysia on their official list. Over 2,000 have been recognized by the UNHCR.
But, there are more Kachins who have yet to register with the KRC.
Most Kachin refugees want to relocate to third countries as refugees, including the United States, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand and Denmark.
